PHILADELPHIA – The Florida Panthers chose defenceman Aaron Ekblad first overall in Friday’s NHL Entry Draft, electing to take the big Barrie Colt rather than trade the pick.

The 18-year-old from Belle River, Ont., is seen as a potential franchise defenceman who is ahead of many of his fellow juniors in terms of size, strength and maturity.

Ekblad said he feels ready to help the Panthers in the fall.

“I am for sure,” he told TSN. “I believe in myself and I’m confident that I can step into the league next year. I think that’s what the Florida Panthers see in me.”

The six-foot-three 216-pound Ekblad, granted exceptional player status by Hockey Canada to enter the OHL at just 15, had 23 goals, 30 assists and 91 penalty minutes in 58 games last season.

The last defenceman to go first overall in the NHL draft was Erik Johnson taken by St. Louis in 2006.

Kootenay Ice centre Sam Reinhart went second overall to the Buffalo Sabres and Prince Albert Raiders forward Leon Draisaitl was selected with the third pick by the Edmonton Oilers.

Ekblad, Reinhart, Draisaitl and forwards Samuel Bennett and Michael Dal Colle led the pool of talent available at Wells Fargo Center.

Ekblad was ranked second among draft prospects by the International Scouting Services, which had Reinhart No. 1. NHL’s Central Scouting had Ekblad in the No. 2 position behind Bennett.

Reinhart, an 18-year-old from North Vancouver, is seen as an elite playmaker with good skating and puck skills.

The six-foot-one 185-pounder, named WHL player of the year in 2013-14, has true hockey bloodlines.

Brother Max was selected by the Calgary Flames in the third round (63rd overall) in the 2010 draft, while brother Griffin was chosen fourth overall by the Islanders in 2012. Father Paul, a 12th-round draft pick of the Atlanta Flames in 1979, played 11 NHL seasons with the Flames and Vancouver Canucks.

The crowd at Wells Fargo Center started a Let’s Go Flyers chant before the opening roll call of teams. Every other team was greeted with the word “Sucks” as their name was announced — with the exception of Pittsburgh and Boston, who drew deafening boos.

Comcast president Dave Scott, head of the company that owns the Flyers, congratulated the Los Angeles Kings on winning the Stanley Cup — and defeating the rival Rangers in the final. The feisty crowd loved the kicker.

Commissioner Gary Bettman was booed long and loud when he took the stage. “I love your passion,” said the unflappable commissioner.

And in the housekeeping department, the Phoenix Coyotes became the Arizona Coyotes.

The Vancouver Canucks stole much of the pre-draft thunder earlier Friday, sending centre Ryan Kesler to Anaheim and defenceman Jason Garrison to Tampa Bay while acquiring forward Derek Dorsett from the Rangers.

Going into the draft, Panthers GM Dale Tallon said he was 70 per cent certain he would keep the No. 1 pick, despite “intriguing” offers that included an established player and lower pick in the first round.

The Panthers (29-45-8) won the draft lottery ahead of Buffalo (21-51-10) to kick off the draft for the first time since 1994 when they drafted defenceman Ed Jovanovski, now 38 and on his second stint in south Florida.

Florida also won the draft lottery in 2002 and 2003, but traded away the pick both years.

The last defenceman to go first overall was Erik Johnson, taken by St. Louis in 2006. There was a run on blue-liners in the ’90s with Roman Hamrlik (1992, Tampa Bay), Jovanovski (1994, Florida), Bryan Berard (1995, Ottawa) and Chris Phillips (1996, Ottawa) all going first overall.

The Panthers will be hoping to repeat the success of Colorado last year with the first pick. Centre Nathan MacKinnon jumped directly to the NHL from the Halifax Mooseheads, winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as top rookie along the way.

Canadian teams were front and centre with the Oilers, Flames, Canucks, Leafs and Jets also holding picks in the top 10.

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